SAM ALLARDYCE today pinpointed playmaker Emre as one of his key men and feels that the diminutive Turk can drive Newcastle United to another level.

And Big Sam is aiming to use his large backroom team to ensure they squeeze every last piece of skill from a player who has been compared to Diego Maradona.

After watching Emre’s 16-minute cameo against Everton on Sunday when he produced a stunning strike and then teed up the winner for Michael Owen, Allardyce will demand MORE from the former Inter Milan star.

He told the Chronicle: “We need to get him fit, and get him stronger and quicker.

“We need to get his aerobic capacity to a higher level than ever before, and that will allow this guy to produce the skill that he’s got.

“The more stamina he has, the more skill he shows.

“He’ll get on the ball more and more to show the skills that’s he’s got.”

The words will be a boost for Emre, with the player already having contacted the Chronicle to tell fans he hopes to battle for his future and make his place in the team permanent.

And the look on the little midfielder’s face when he scored his first of the season against Everton told its own story.

Emre of course was linked with a move away from Newcastle but insisted that he never wanted to leave.

But even though Galatasaray would love to have him back at the club where he started his career, it is thought that even though, like other Turkish internationals, Emre could fancy ending his career in his homeland, at 27 it would be deemed too early.

And if Emre was to quit St James’ Park his likely destination would be the Bundesliga, where both Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin are constantly tracking his situation.

However, Big Sam stated he was very much part of his immediate and future plans.

He says: “Emre’s knuckled down exceptionally well over the last two or three weeks.

“He had a really good game for the reserves, and came off the bench (against Everton) and made a huge contribution, so that’s him now pushing for a first-team place.”

Now Allardyce will hope that Emre comes through Turkey’s trip to Moldova on Saturday and the highly-charged clash with Greece on Wednesday, with the two sides locking horns for a place in Euro 2008.